When Culver City elected two new City Council members in April, 80 percent of voters spent the day reclining on their fingernails.
Backpatting was the most common reaction among smart analysts. They were proud the 20 percent turnout barrier had been broken.
“I would like to advocate for all mail ballots,” says Mayor Jim Clarke, who will not have to face voters again.
He supports a proposed bill (Senate Bill 350) by Secretary of State Alex Padilla calling for mail ballots in every California community, following the lead of Oregon’s all-mail ballots policy.
Seventy percent of Californians favor mail ballots, and 60 percent voted by mail in the 2014 election cycle.
The enthused Secretary Padilla also is advocating same-day registration. He believes it will bring at least four positive results:
- Overall turnout could go up by 4.8 percent.
- Turnout among those aged 18 to 25 could increase by 9 percent.
- Turnout for those who have moved in the last six months could increase by 7.3 percent.
- Turnout for Latinos and newly-naturalized citizens could each rise by 5.1 percent.
Mayor Clarke notes that switching is not a 100 percent panacea for all elections.
“All-mail voting has not necessarily increased the voter turnout for presidential or gubernatorial elections,” he said.
“It does make a difference, though, in local elections, 2 or 3 percent. That is good.
“The other thing we can be doing is early voting.”
Mayor Clarke backs virtually all corners of Secretary Padilla’s revolutionary plan, including a small but handy convenience — dropping off your ballot at any precinct.
(To be continued)
